7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
Comment: I’m sure that John’s writing is much better than mine and certainly I’m not giving a word for word translation of the Greek. I’m simply trying to make clear what ‘hits me in the eye’ as I read the prose portion of today’s reading.
“You are no longer in the darkness of ignorance about the story of Jesus. He has lived out the truth of what I’m writing to you! But you’re not yet fully in the ‘Light’ which Jesus offers! As a Christian, you’re not meant to straddle the barbed wire fence between rejection and full commitment. This full commitment is to be seen in such things as, firstly, loving – the command to love was there in the Old Testament but has been given an even higher plane as we see it lived out and commanded by Jesus. In Jesus there is a very definite New Aspect to loving seen! And secondly it is seen in the matter of being fully committed to the Light of Truth and Understanding as compared to the Blackness of ignorance and ‘hate’! If you say that you understand what I’m saying and hate your brother, you are definitely fooling yourself! You are blind to the Truth!“
Then there is a list of things. which seem to me. probably are meant to be a list of things learnt by rote, and repeated often by the fellowships of believers, and practiced in daily living out the Truth thereof! The pronouns are, I think, of what would be called in this day ‘Unisex’ language, – the mankind era – where it meant both sexes and all ages. Compared to the gender of men and women as seperate – almost different races! Both forms of expression have their place, if we read the context aright! The thoughts certainly apply to both sexes and to all ages! Verse 12 – applies to all as we are to be childlike (not childish!) in our faith! v13 – goes from childhood to old age! It is amazing that we can know God, who is the Ancient of Days! – young people seem to try to ‘express themselves’, stretching the God made boundaries sexually and in other ways. Christians are to listen to God and overcome the worldly ways. And the all inclusive ‘children’ is here again! v14 – Knowing God, Strength in God’s word, and by Christ’s enabling overcoming the enemy, the wicked one, is the secret of Christian victorious living.
A Hymn – In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
Prayer: Please help me to stand firm and persist to the end, my Gracious Saviour.
As I read it! 